Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Lux Winterbell.
He was the second son of the Winterbell Family and a highly promising candidate for the next Patriarch. He had grown up receiving praise not only for his handsome appearance, but also for having perfectly inherited Arkan Winterbell’s outstanding talent. His swordsmanship in particular was sharp enough to be compared to that of Arkan, the Patriarch, and the sword he wielded carried the dignity of the Winterbell Family.
That was why so many within the family had marked him as a leading candidate for the next Patriarch. The eldest son, Ryan, was also outstanding, but Lux’s talent was no less than his. Some even judged Lux to be superior. His skill was beyond doubt.
However, not all evaluations of him were positive. The many descriptions that followed him mostly stemmed from his unusual appearance and the nature of his mana. Most notably, his blond hair was something that could not be found anywhere in the Winterbell Family. It was a brilliant golden color, as though the sun itself had settled into his hair.
Exceedingly splendid, beautiful golden hair.
The members of the Winterbell Family carried coldness within their bodies. This was not merely a figure of speech, but a plain fact. Cold actually flowed through their mana, and that was precisely the source of the power the Winterbell Family had passed down for generations.
Such powerful chill dwelled in their bodies that even the cold of midwinter felt lukewarm to them.
But Lux Winterbell, unusually, possessed both the properties of fire and ice at the same time. Such a phenomenon had no precedent even in the thousand-year history of the Winterbell Family. Whenever he manifested his magic power, a bizarre sight unfolded in which ice and flame coexisted. Some called it a blessing from the gods, while others called it a curse.
To put it bluntly, he was a mutant. Golden hair that shone like the sun and mana with the properties of flame were not characteristics of the Winterbell Family. Rather, they were closer to the representative traits of the Helios Family, their sworn enemy. The Helios Family was famous for wielding the power of the sun and flames. For such traits to appear in Winterbell blood was an extremely unusual matter.
Because of this, his existence had always remained a mystery, and among gossipers, endless speculation and rumors drifted around. Some said he had inherited the blood of Helios, while others clamored that this was a revelation from the gods. Some even cast suspicious eyes upon his birth.
To harbor such doubts was itself something one had to stake one’s life on, but human curiosity did not disappear so easily.
Only at the very moment when a sharp blade touched the back of one’s neck did regret come.
But no one could know the truth.
Lux’s very existence was the greatest secret and mystery of the Winterbell Family. Even Arkan, the Patriarch, kept completely silent about it.
Still, one thing was certain: Lux’s peculiarity made his abilities even more powerful. The sight of him freely handling both fire and ice was like a hero out of legend.
“Come up. Lux Winterbell.”
Arkan’s cold voice rang across the training ground. The breathing in the stands stopped. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.
“Yes, Patriarch.”
Lux slowly rose to his feet. His blond hair shone brilliantly in the moonlight. It was like seeing the sun rise into the night sky. The blue formal attire he wore symbolized Winterbell tradition, yet together with his blond hair, it created a strange harmony.
The spectators cheered at his appearance.
“Is that man Lux Winterbell!? I’d only heard rumors about him, so this is my first time actually seeing him……. He’s far more striking than I imagined.”
“I heard every member of the Winterbell Family is born with pure white hair……. But as expected, Lux Winterbell really does have golden hair. Just like the Helios Family’s…….”
“Tsk! Did you not know that if you carelessly blurt out words like that, your neck won’t remain attached?”
“I heard Lux Winterbell was the winner of the last friendly match……. As expected, the odds this time are overwhelming too.”
“Of course. Anyone who has seen Lux Winterbell fight would think the same.”
Someone shouted his name, and someone else let out an exclamation.
“Lux Winterbell! Lux Winterbell! Lux Winterbell!”
“Kya! He’s so handsome! Lord Lux!”
The genius of Winterbell, a miraculous being who handled both fire and ice. At last, the star of the second match had appeared.
There was elegance and dignity in Lux’s gait. With each one of his steps, the air of the training ground trembled. Cold chill and blazing heat wrapped around him, creating a bizarre phenomenon.
Standing in the very center of the training ground, Lux Winterbell looked around at the spectators and greeted them with an elegant gesture.
Then thunderous cheers poured down from the stands.
“Waaaaa!!!”
His opponent belonged to the Imperial Family.
It was Ratun Caesar, the Emperor’s third son.
“Ratun Caesar of the Imperial Family.”
A thunderous roar shook the training ground. The nobles in the stands rose from their seats. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for. Beneath the Imperial Family’s golden banner, one man walked forward. Ratun Caesar, the Emperor’s third son and a man regarded as the wielder of the fastest swordsmanship in the Imperial Family.
At his appearance, the training ground held its breath. The spectators stared at him with their mouths open. Golden armor so dazzling that even the moonlight would be ashamed shone brilliantly.
The sheath at his waist bore the emblem of the Imperial Family, and his jet-black hair fluttered elegantly in the night breeze. His amber eyes caught the moonlight and shone like jewels. His perfect features stole the breath of all who looked at him.
The dignity of royalty dwelled in his gait. Every single step was so noble that it seemed as though a god had descended. Each time he stepped on the floor of the training ground, faint golden ripples spread outward.
“…….”
Across from him, Lux rose from his place. His blond hair swayed in the moonlight. Dressed in blue formal attire, he looked like a painting. The aura of fire and ice wrapped around him.
At last, the two geniuses faced each other.
Blond hair and black hair, blue formal attire and golden armor, formed a vivid contrast beneath the moonlight. Around Lux, the bizarre phenomenon of ice and flame coexisting took place, while around Ratun, a golden aura circled as though the authority of the Imperial Family had taken form.
“It has been a long time, Your Highness Ratun.”
Lux’s voice was as polite as ever, but his gaze was extremely sharp.
Ratun’s cold voice rang out.
“Yes. Lux Winterbell.”
Killing intent flashed through his amber eyes. The gazes of the two men collided.
For a moment, it felt as though the air of the training ground had frozen solid.
Around Lux, chill and heat whirled as though dancing, while Ratun’s golden aura grew even stronger.
As their presences collided, an invisible wave shook the training ground.
Ratun spoke once more.
“You have no idea how long I have waited for this day.”
Fury dwelled in his calm tone.
Yet even at those words, Lux Winterbell showed no reaction. He merely looked at him with his usual expressionless face and faintly curled up the corners of his lips.
“For what reason have you been waiting?”
Each time sword struck sword, the moonlight shattered into pieces. The movements of the two swordsmen were as beautiful as a painting.
Gasps burst out from the stands.
“Incredible from the very start…….”
A sigh slipped from Ratun’s lips.
“This cannot be…”
He had never expected his strongest swordsmanship to be blocked so easily. On top of that, Lux’s expression was still calm. He looked as though he were taking a light stroll.
Then it happened.
Chaaeng!
Lux’s sword moved only once. It was a strike of restrained power and perfect angle. That single movement neutralized all of Ratun’s attacks.
For a moment, the training ground fell silent. Ratun’s continuous assault came to a complete stop. His amber eyes shook greatly. His strongest swordsmanship had been nullified by a single move. Bewilderment crossed his face.
Ratun’s voice trembled.
“How……?”
But Lux still wore a smile. His calm appearance scratched even more painfully at Ratun’s pride.